Clinical Pharmacist in Downham Market

We are expanding our Pharmacy Team and are looking for a forward thinking and highly motivated Clinical Pharmacist to complement our friendly team of clinicians who share our vision of high quality patient care and innovative service development. You will work alongside our practice team to develop the joint aims of the PCN and practice to improve patient outcomes.

Please note: Although this role is predominantly remote, weekly in-practice attendance is mandatory for clinical governance meetings, along with mandatory quarterly attendance at Primary Care Network all staff meetings. Therefore, this position is not suitable for candidates requiring a long-distance commute.

• Perform clinical medication and long-term condition reviews to address any medication-related issues and optimise medication.
• Make appropriate recommendations to GPs and other healthcare professionals for the management of long-term conditions, prescribing issues and know when to refer.
• Ensure that patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare professional.
• Advise patients on minor ailments and long-term conditions.
• Ensure medicines are safe, appropriate, and work effectively for the patient.
• Undertake medicine reconciliation and process administrative letters.
• Provide clinical expertise on medication related issues to the multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake regular prescribing related audits and quality improvement projects.
• Action medication safety alerts.
• Ensure that medicines are prescribed as per national and local guidance and in accordance with the local prescribing formulary.

Based in West Norfolk, our PCN serves over 55,000 patients across our seven member Practices of; Manor Farm Medical Practice, Plowright Surgery, Campingland Surgery, Litcham Health Centre, Howdale Surgery, the Hollies Surgery and Bridge Street Surgery. We pride ourselves on offering our patients the best care possible, demonstrating innovation, clinical excellence and working collaboratively with our allied health care professionals across the network. We encourage career development provided by in house training programs and coaching support for external training and development opportunities.

• Undertake clinical audits of prescribing areas as directed by the Doctors, feedback results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice teams.
• Support public health campaigns in line with practice/PCN needs.
• Provide specialist knowledge on public health programmes available to the public.
• Support the general practice teams to ensure the practices are compliant with CQC standards where medicine is involved.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and have the ability to implement appropriately within the workplace.
• Have an understanding of and contribute to the workplace vision.
• Demonstrate an ability to motivate self to achieve goals.
• Have the ability to improve quality within the limitations of service.
• Review annual progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by yourself and other members of the management team.
• Promote Equality and Diversity in people management skills and lead by example.
• Provide educational and training to practices on therapeutics and medicines optimisation.
• Identify national and local policy and guidance that affects patient safety through the use of medicines.
• Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and local and national guidance.
• Undertake audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the practice teams.
• Support the PCN with the delivery of QOF, IIF and other targets as driven by NHS England and Norfolk & Waveney ICB.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service.
• Have an understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation.
• Confirm and understand relevant standards of practices and deliver reporting outcomes for projects.
• Contribute pharmaceutical advice for development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components (treatment pathways and patient information leaflets).
• Monitor practice prescribing against the local health economy's RAG list and make recommendations to Doctors for medicines that should be prescribed by hospital doctors (red drug) or subject to shared care (amber drug).
• Assist practices in maintaining the practice formulary held on practice system.
• Ensure practices are compliant against NICE technology assessment guidance and update practices appropriately.
• Perform clinical and structured medication reviews with patients and produce recommendations on prescribing and monitoring.
• See patients with medical conditions that optimisation is required and make recommendations to Doctors for medicine improvements.
• Put in place protocols for managing DMARDS and offer support to practice staff to safely manage these patients.
• Answer medication queries to practice staff aiming to upskill and offer solutions and advice.
• Act as an antibiotic steward, supporting Doctors to prescribe appropriately and reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics.
• Develop and build on relationships with the community pharmacies.

Qualifications: Degree in pharmacy, MPharm/BPharm GPHC registered. Member of the RPS IP qualified or working towards an IP clinical diploma minor ailments qualification.

Experience: Minimum of two years post-graduate experience, either in secondary, primary or community centre EMIS Clinical systems trained. Experience of general practice and understanding of medicines optimisation roles.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.